MLSNext Pro League announced

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It looks like this new league will be in the 3rd division of soccer, not 2nd. So I don't see how this is any different than playing in USL League One which is also 3rd division. USL is not talking about pro/rel between League One and League Two (4th division), so MLS teams could suck it up in League One and not worry about getting relegated and further. Either way I am glad to see USL and MLS expanding because that can only mean good things for soccer in this country.

The point is MLS wants to control it so it best serves the purpose of accommodating their reserve teams. For example, as I understand it, the plan is that the reserve teams will travel with the first teams to away games and play the same opponent earlier in the day (maybe at a different/smaller venue). So the schedule we be derivative of the MLS schedule. That only works if you can coordinate the whole thing.

One oddity that doesn't fit that story though...MLS says there will be independent teams in this league (there is one, Rochester, at launch). Not sure what purpose this serves; it muddies the water a bit on the otherwise clear purpose of this league. Maybe a placeholder for the future where they try to put the squeeze on USL?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It looks like this new league will be in the 3rd division of soccer, not 2nd. So I don't see how this is any different than playing in USL League One which is also 3rd division. USL is not talking about pro/rel between League One and League Two (4th division), so MLS teams could suck it up in League One and not worry about getting relegated and further. Either way I am glad to see USL and MLS expanding because that can only mean good things for soccer in this country.

The point is MLS wants to control it so it best serves the purpose of accommodating their reserve teams. For example, as I understand it, the plan is that the reserve teams will travel with the first teams to away games and play the same opponent earlier in the day (maybe at a different/smaller venue). So the schedule we be derivative of the MLS schedule. That only works if you can coordinate the whole thing.

One oddity that doesn't fit that story though...MLS says there will be independent teams in this league (there is one, Rochester, at launch). Not sure what purpose this serves; it muddies the water a bit on the otherwise clear purpose of this league. Maybe a placeholder for the future where they try to put the squeeze on USL?

Typically the reserve team plays at home when the 1st team is away. That way supporters can go to home matches.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most of the MLS teams are at the bottom of the standings in USL Championship. If USL implements pro/rel between Championship and League One a lot of these MLS 2nd teams would be relegated. Loudoun and NYRB2 are dead last in the standings. This seems like it is just for marketing purposes to avoid relegation.

Well, this is kind of the whole point. MLS 2nd teams have a different mission than pure-play USL teams. They exist to serve the first team's long term interest, not (primarily) to win games now. And the USL table bears this out -- MLS 2nd teams are generally at the bottom, as you say. But that's bad for USL to have teams that aren't *really* trying to win. So this solution will make things better for both -- USL becomes a more legit second tier league, with all "real" teams trying to win; and the MLS reserve teams will have their own league where winning is nice, but secondary. Not "just...marketing," actual good reasons!

You could see this thinking with the Loudon United team and DC united. People going up to DC United to play and the Loudon team having to pivot without some of their players. This does not happen with other USL teams that do not have a MLS club. The age difference on the teams that have a MLS team and teams that do not is also interesting as some of these MLS kids are playing others that are years older. Of course, you could say when they get to DC united, they will be playing those age groups weekly, but the focus on MLS teams is development to get them to DC united, where the other USL teams that do not have a corresponding MLS team is focused on only winning. I am not all of it is marketing, I think most of it is that the current league status is disjointed and they are trying to create a flow to the pro's where there wasn't before. A lot like European soccer with a Major League Baseball twist.

It looks like this new league will be in the 3rd division of soccer, not 2nd. So I don't see how this is any different than playing in USL League One which is also 3rd division. USL is not talking about pro/rel between League One and League Two (4th division), so MLS teams could suck it up in League One and not worry about getting relegated and further. Either way I am glad to see USL and MLS expanding because that can only mean good things for soccer in this country.

Pro - Rel has to happen soon.
TV deals will be going elsewhere if the MLS doesn’t change.
Which means less money & Less quality.